Applicable Statutes/Regulations

Program Description

As history, the Program to Reduce Class Size in Grades 9 to 12 was established in 1989 with the “…goal of attaining greater pupil proficiency made possible by a class size of 20 in high school courses taught by the English, mathematics, science, or social studies department to meet graduation requirements…” School districts were allowed discretion on which grade level (9, 10, 11 or 12) would be implemented. Additional intent language is included in Section 1 of SB 666.

SB 12 (Chapter 334, Statutes of 1998) deleted the prior program and created the Morgan-Hart Class Size Reduction Program for Grade 9. This program allocated funds to school districts for participating high schools to reduce class size in grade nine English and one other course required for graduation (either mathematics, science, or social studies). Districts could also serve grades ten, eleven, or twelve if they had continuously implemented the program since 1998.

Grade nine English and the second grade nine course designated to participate in the program must count toward the completion of graduation requirements in Education Code Section 51225.3 (a)(1) (A), (B), (C), or (D). All of the participating classes in each participating school on the average can have no more than 20 students per certificated teacher and no more than 22 students in any participating class.

Special Education students enrolled in special day classes on a full-time basis were excluded from enrollment counts. Students enrolled in necessary small schools that received funding pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 42280) of Chapter 7 of Part 24 of the Education Code were excluded. Implementation of this program must not adversely affect existing class size in courses not included in class size reduction.

Funds were allocated at a specified rate per student per course, to a maximum of two times the CBEDS ninth grade enrollment if two courses were implemented. The funding rate was established in the annual Budget Act.

SACS Resource/Revenue Codes

1200 / 8590

Flexibility

EC Section 42605 authorized complete flexibility by a school district, county office of education, and charter school in the use of funds appropriated in the state budget for fiscal years 2008-09 through 2012-13.